Hunterdon Central High School prepares 'Pippin' for March 8 opening

Hunterdon Central Regional High School presents the pop musical, “Pippin His Life and Times,” Thursday through Saturday, March 8-10 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium.

“The show truly showcases the enormous talent of our cast and gives each lead a show-stopping number — or two,” says director Gail Enterline. “It is different from anything Hunterdon Central has done, a dark, funny, enlightening coming of age story.
The cast is in love with the show and the audience will be, too,” she predicts.

First produced on Broadway in 1972, directed by the legendary Bob Fosse, “Pippin” is the story of Prince Pippin (played by junior Damian Quinn), son of King Charlemagne, ruler of the Holy Roman Empire (senior Warren Dennis). The story is told by a group of traveling performers and narrated and manipulated by the Leading Player (senior Kenny Abes).

Damian and Kenny played a couple of thugs in last year’s production of “Guys and Dolls,” Harry the Horse and Rusty Charlie, respectively. This will be Damian’s second go at playing a disturbed young man in a Central musical, having performed as Marian the Librarian’s kid brother Winthrop his freshman year in “The Music Man.”

Damian says he’s a little bit like Pippin, in that they’re both ambitious and both wonder why they’re “put here on this earth.” But Damian is probably the guy you’d rather hang around with. He says, “I think how I can better my own life while thinking about how I can (help) other people in my life.” Pippin is all about Pippin.

King Charlemagne played in the Save-a-Soul mission band last year, and his second wife Frastrada (junior Taylor Beckman) was Gen. Matilda Cartwright.

“Pippin” tells of a young prince’s quest to find meaning in his life. He experiences war, women, religion, art, politics and domestic life, but finds all these pursuits unfulfilling. He falls in love with a widow (senior Seton Helwig) who has a young son (freshman Alex Carr) and receives lively advice from his grandmother (senior Caitlin Pang), all while his stepmother Frastrada plots to get her son Lewis (senior Sean Pohle) onto the throne.
Seniors Cara Hedland and Sarah Jennings are the student directors.

Forty chorus members and a full student orchestra provide the music for this magical tale. The Miss the Man Trio consists of Kate Donahue, Amanda Livesey and Phoebe Torsilieri.

The director also notes, “I love the versatility of the set that the wonderful crew built and designed.”

All tickets are $12. Reserved seating tickets may be purchased at the box office, located in front of the auditorium, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 3:15-5 p.m. and two hours prior to each performance.

As is tradition at Hunterdon Central, senior citizens are invited to attend a special performance of “Pippin” on Wednesday, March 7, at 3:30 p.m., free of charge. No advanced seating or ticket requests are necessary for that performance.
For more information, leave a message on the box office hotline at 908-284-7119 or e-mail fineartstickets@hcrhs.k12.nj.us.